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Ghana–Togo Mountain languages

Ghana–Togo Mountain languages

The Ghana–Togo Mountain languages, formerly called Togorestsprachen (Togo Remnant languages) and Central Togo languages, form a grouping of about fourteen languages spoken in the mountains of the Ghana–Togo borderland. They are part of the Kwa branch of the Niger–Congo family.

Ghana–Togo Mountain languages
Togo Remnant, Central Togo
GeographicdistributionIvory Coast,Ghana, andTogo
Linguistic classificationNiger–Congo
Subdivisions
Glottolog

History of classification

Bernhard Struck, in 1912, was the first to group together these languages under the label Semibantu von Mitteltogo. Westermann, in his classification of the then Sudanic languages, adopted the grouping but called it Togorestsprachen.[3] This was mainly a loose geographical-typological grouping based on the elaborate noun class systems of the languages; lack of comparative data prevented a more definitive phylogenetic classification. Bernd Heine (1968) carried out comparative research among the group, establishing a basic division between Ka-Togo and Na-Togo based on the word for 'flesh' in the languages. Dakubu and Ford (1988) renamed this cluster the Central Togo languages, a term still used by some (e.g. Blench 2001); since the mid-90s, the term Ghana–Togo Mountain languages has become more common.

No comparative study of the languages has appeared in print since Heine (1968); Blench (unpublished) presented a tentative reclassification of the group in 2001, noting the internal diversity of the grouping.

It is still unclear whether the grouping forms a branch on its own within Kwa.[4]

Features

A much noted characteristic of these languages is their typical Niger–Congo noun class system, since in many surrounding languages only remnants of such a system are found.

All Ghana–Togo Mountain languages are tonal and most have a nine or ten vowel system employing ATR vowel harmony. Both Ewe and Twi, the dominant regional languages, have exerted considerable influence on many GTM languages.

Languages

English namesAutonyms
PeopleLanguage
NaAdeleBidireGidire
Anii, Basila
Giseme, Akpe
LogbaAkpanawòIkpana
Lelemi, BuemLε-lεmi
Lefana, BuemLε-fana
Siwu-Lolobi, Akpafusg. Ɔwu, pl. MawuSiwu
Likpesg. Ɔkpεlá, pl. BakpεláSεkpεlé
Santrokofísg. Ɔlɛɛ, pl. BalɛɛSεlεε
KaAvatimeKe-dane-maSì-yà
NyangboBatrugbuTùtrùgbù
TafiBàgbɔ̀Tɛ̀gbɔ̀
IkposoAkpɔsɔIkpɔsɔ
Bowiri, ToraBawuliTuwuli
AhlonIgo
AkebuƎkpǝǝβǝKɨkpǝǝkǝ
AnimereAnimere

Classification of GTM languages

Heine (1968) placed the GTM languages into two branches of Kwa, Na-Togo and Ka-Togo:

  • Na-Togo 1. Lelemi Siwu (Akpafu–Lolobi) Likpe Santrokofi (Sεlεε) 2. Logba 3. Adele Basila (Anii)

  • Ka-Togo 1. Avatime Nyangbo-Tafi 2. Ahlo (Igo) Bowili Kposo 3. Animere Akebu

However, this classification was distorted by influence from Ewe on the one hand and Twi on the other.

Blench (2006) makes the following tentative classification, which he expects to change as more data becomes available.

One branch each of the Na and Ka languages are split off.

As with Heine's classification, these may be independent branches of Kwa:

  • Na-Togo (reduced) 1. Lelemi Siwu (Akpafu–Lolobi) Likpe Santrokofi 2. Logba

  • Anii–Adere Adele Basila (Anii)

  • Ka-Togo (reduced) 1. Avatime Nyangbo-Tafi Bowili 2. Ahlo Kposo

  • Kebu–Animere Animere Akebu

Ethnologue also lists Agotime, which they note is similar to Ahlo.

See also

  • Boro language (Ghana), an extinct and scarcely attested language from the area that may be Na-Togo

  • List of Proto-Central Togo reconstructions (Wiktionary)

References

[1]
Citation Linkglottolog.orgHammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017). "Ka-Togo". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
Sep 26, 2019, 12:41 AM
[2]
Citation Linkglottolog.orgHammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017). "Na-Togo". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
Sep 26, 2019, 12:41 AM
[3]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgE.g. Westermann 1935:146
Sep 26, 2019, 12:41 AM
[4]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgBlench (2001) says that 'Although much of the literature and in particular Heine (1968) treats the Central Togo languages as a unit, since Stewart (1989) it has generally been accepted that these form distinct branches showing no particular relationship.'
Sep 26, 2019, 12:41 AM
[5]
Citation Linkwww.onderzoekinformatie.nlThe Southern Ghana-Togo Mountain Groups: A description of their languages and cultural heritage.
Sep 26, 2019, 12:41 AM
[6]
Citation Linkwww.rogerblench.infoGhana-Togo Mountain languages home page
Sep 26, 2019, 12:41 AM
[13]
Citation Linken.wikipedia.orgThe original version of this page is from Wikipedia, you can edit the page right here on Everipedia.Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Additional terms may apply.See everipedia.org/everipedia-termsfor further details.Images/media credited individually (click the icon for details).
Sep 26, 2019, 12:41 AM